By David Easton
In an era of change, the comfortable past of design is also slowly changing, bracing itself for the brave new world of the future.
I sense this new global world being part of a new design direction that is affected by new technology, new demographics and a new sense of the past woven into the design inspiration for the future. We look at what is now, what is sustainable, and what can be done faster, in this fast paced world.
I look at new technology, and I get excited about the direction that it forces me to take. When I started in this business 180 years ago, I knew how to design for that period. Now I learn everyday about new ways to do things – new technology to apply to my work. Look at this traditional fireplace that I designed for a client in Aspen, and now look at the bio fuel fireplace in this next image. It becomes a piece of art on the wall, and it’s safe and clean. It’s cost effective and can be used anywhere in the house.
Travel has also taught me about the global chic that I try to bring to my product. It has deeply affected my feelings about architecture, interiors and the textiles and carpets that are part of the totality of design. Global technology, and the future, along with a careful eye to the past will be the new weave of the future.
My recent collection for Lee Jofa looks to that global future – it was influenced by my trips through South Africa, Australia, India, Bhutan and China. This global inspiration is now, part of the global world of this Lee Jofa fabric collection.
Quietly, and step by step, we all will thoughtfully move gently into this new world. Don’t be afraid to leave the old behind and embrace the new. It’s part of a change that is sweeping across the globe, and through the world of design. What global trends influence your design process?
David Easton / World Citizen
David Easton is one of the world’s most sought-after interior designers. While he has made his name as a neo-classicist, his erudition within the realms of architecture and decoration is wide-ranging and continuing. Named to the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 1992, Easton is a frequent lecturer. David has been twice presented with Classical America’s Arthur Ross Award, and most recently, his peers honored him with the “Lifetime Achievement” Award at London’s Design and Decoration Awards.
In recent years, he has shifted to a more streamlined, contemporary aesthetic--a response to his own shifting tastes and those of his clients. “It’s necessary to move forward,” says Easton. “I see a desire to simplify life, and for simpler interiors. I think the future will be about a more intelligent use of resources and a more intelligent support of lifestyles.” In addition to his residential work, Easton has designed collections for Lee Jofa (fabrics and upholstered furniture), Safavieh (carpets), Walters Wicker (outdoor furniture), Cole and Son Ltd. (wallpaper), and Robert Abbey Inc. (lighting).
